Artificial denture.



E. G. BENNETT.

ARTIFICIAL DENTURB.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11, 1913.

1,116,371. Patented N0v.10,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F 013 a m 1 1 Q Y 751.3 E/V/VET'T W mm E. G. BENNETT.

ARTIFICIAL DBNTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.11, 1013.

1 ,1 1 6,371; Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 8 is a relatively STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST BENNETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ARTIFICIAL DENTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1913. Serial No. 805,943.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Dentures, of which the following is a ful1, clear, and exact description. a

My invention relates to artificial dentures and particularly to an improved bridge construction, the main object being to provide a simple, effective and durable construction. The construction is also such that it may be very easily made, and in the event of breakage or in the event of refitting, may be very easily repaired or readjusted.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved denture as it would appear in place. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the denture removed. Fig. 4 is a side view of thedenture removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the abutments and associated parts to which the denture is applied. Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a relatively enlarged end elevation of one of the abutments for receiving the denture. enlarged view of the end of the denture. Fig. 9 is a detail view of part of the blade sheath and an anchorage. Fig. 10 is a plan view of my invention in modified form. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a view of the denture in modified form,

removed. Fig. 13 is a view of the abutment for receiving the denture. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a further modificationi Fig. 15 is a side elevation of said further modification.

have shown my im proved bridge spanning the space between two abutment teeth.

In Figs. 1 to 9, I

The abutment teeth are indicated at 1-2,and extending from one tooth to the other is a bridge,*said bridge being preferably located at the inner side of the alveolar ridge. The removable bridge itself comprises the usual body portion 4, which carries the artificial teeth 55. Attached to the body portions: is a device arranged to embrace or be mechanically connected with a-blade 3L This blade 3 may be'secured to the abutment tooth or teeth in any well-known manner, as, for example, by means of a crownto which the blade is rigidly fixed. In the particular form shown,

this connecting means comprises a sheath 6 having therein a long thin blade-receiving slot, the side walls of the sheath being arranged to frictionally bind upon the blade when the parts are in position, thus holdmg the bridge against accidental dislodgernent. I by preference provide a supportmg shoulder 7 on each abutment tooth or crown which is designed to support theends of the bridge, and I so arrange and proportion the parts that the denture will simultaneously rest upon the alveolar ridge and the said supportingshoulderor shoulders].

In some instances also the closed upper edge of the sheath may simultaneously rest upon the upper edge of the blade 3. Should the ridge shrink somewhat, or should it be desirable for any reason to refit the denture, it is apparent that this may be very easily done by either removing and re-applying the blade 8 at the proper position, or by simply cutting or trimming down the edge of the blade, the width of which is so ample as to permit of considerable trimming without materially lessening its strength. It will be observed that the location of the blade is such that the entire under body of the part 41 of the bridge will rest upon the alveolar ridge and thereby secure the maximum support. Again it will be observed that by reason of the comparative thinness of the connecting parts-the blade and the sheath-no inconvenience is felt by the wearer, either when the bridge, is in place or absent. a i

The foregoing and many other advantages will be apparent to the mechanic skilled in thisart, by reason of the novel features of construction herein disclosed and heretofore described. a

I' have shown SOII'lQ IIlOdlfiCfi/CIOIIS of my invention in the drawings, and in Figs. 10

to 13 I have shown the blade construction as applied-to a single abutment tooth indicated at 1*. In this instance, the blade is indicated at 3. ,6 represents the sheath and 4 the body of the bridge and 5 the artificial teeth. In this particular construction, the blade is provided with a notch 9 and the inside of the sheath is provided with a pin or shoulder 10 arranged to enter the notch, the function of the pin and notch being to prevent the bridge from slipping away from the abutment; tooth 1*.

tooth l at one end only.

0 of the pin and hook shown in Figs. to 13.

While for all ordinary purposes the mere frictional engagement of the sheath on the 'blade is suilicient to hold the bridge in place, it is obvious that any additional holding means may be provided, if desired. F or example, a small detent, indicated at 12, Fig. 5, might be employed on the side of the blade 3 arranged to snap into a notch in the side of the sheath, which is so positioned as to register with the detent when the parts are assembled. Any suitable method may be employed for securing the sheath to the base 4: of the bridge, for example, the sheath 6, big. 9, mi ht have on its rear side a strap 14', in which the material of the body 4 might be projected and anchored when the bridge is being made. In some instances it might be desirable to separate the bridge 3 at some point intermediate its length, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the effect of which would be to make two ends to the blade, each end being respectively secured to its respective anchorage tooth. It is, of course, preferred that the blade should be arranged vertically or on edge relatively to the ridge, since in most cases such an arrangement would facilitate the easy insertion and removal of the bridge. In a broad sense, however, it is not essential to all forms that the positioning of the blade shall be as specifically shown in the drawings, for it is well known that much ingenuity and resourcefulness has to be exercised by the modern dental surgeon in fitting appliances to diferent cases, and I do not therefore wish to be limited or restricted to any particular form and arrangement of the various fea-' tures of my invention, the leading or characteristic feature of which is the employment of a relatively thin blade (asdistinguished from a relatively heavy bar), said blade being associated with a blade-engag ing device carried by the bridge, and which preferably is in the form of a sheath designed to coact with the blade in such a manner as to facilitate the easy insertion and removal of the bridge, and which when in place affords a very substantial connection for the bridge, aiding very materially in preventing any rocking action of the bridge on the ridge.

By arranging the blade element and the sheath element at the side of the bridge as distinguished from underneath the bridge body, as in the case of bar bridges heretofore employed, the body of the bridge does not have to be provided with a groove to afford clearance as in the case of bar bridges as heretofore employed, with the result that by my improvement herein disclosed, the entire under surface of the body takes a bearing against the ridge, adding greatly to the comfort of the wearer. Furthermore, by omitting a groove in the under body of the bridge, the bridge structure as such is much stronger than were a longitudinal groove formed therein to afford clearance space for a bar.

What I claim is:

1. In an artificial denture, a removable bridge element, a bridge-holdingmeans comprising a blade arranged to be secured to a fixed abutment tooth, with means at the side of said bridge for snugly embracing said blade on its opposite sides.

2. In an artificial denture,'a removable bridge element, bridge-holding means comprising a blade arranged to be secured to a fixed abutment tooth, with means at the side of said bridge for snugly embracing said blade on its opposite sides, said means comprising a sheath arranged to sub stantially envelop that part of said blade adjacent to said bridge element.

3. In an artificial denture, a stationary abutment tooth, a removable bridge element, a relatively thin blade carried by one of said parts and'a cooperating blade-engaging element carried by the other of said parts, said blade and cooperating velement being arranged at the lingual side of said bridge element and being arranged to embrace said blade on its opposite sides.

4:. In an artificial denture comprising a blade arranged to be carried by a stationary abutment tooth with the edge of the blade facing upwardly and arranged at the side of the abutment tooth, a bridgeelement comprising a body portion carrying an artificial tooth, a blade-holder element arranged at the side thereof to frictionally embrace the blade on its opposite sides, said bladeholder element being formed to provide a blade-receiving slot open at the lower edge to receive said blade.

In an artificial denture, a removable bridge including a body, an artificial tooth carried thereby, a sheath providing a slot open along the lower edge and extending longitudinally of the body at the lingual side thereof, and .a cooperating relatively stationary blade arranged to coact withsaid sheath to hold the bridge in place, with means for preventing said sheath from sliding longitudinally on said blade, said sheath frictionally engaging said blade on its opposite sides.

6. In an artificial denture, two stationary abutment teeth spaced apart from each other, a relatively thin blade spanning the space between said teeth and arranged on one side of said sheath being exposed at the edge an'g at the side (if said teeth, a bridgs lingual side of said bridge. arrange to occupy t e space etWeen sai spaced abutment teeth, a sheath carried by ERNESl BENNETT 5 said bridge at the side thereof and arranged Witnesses:

to slip onto said blade with a friction-tight HENDERSON F. HILL, fit, said sheath being open at its lower edge, E. E. MORSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Iatents,

Washington, D. 0.? 

